Pre-filled drinking straw with a cross-slit valve closure on both ends

ABSTRACT

The invention is characterized in that the straw body (1) is consisting of two or more segments, which are attached together with connection (5) and that the straw body (1) on its both ends has a cross-slit valve (2, 3) closure and the valves (2, 3) and the straw body (1) are integrated by molecular adhesion. The inlet and outlet valves (2, 3) are of a slit type. The straw body (1) is preferably made of a thermoplastic material and the valves (2, 3) are preferably made of elastomer material. The edge of the straw body (1) is shaped to enable larger surface of the connection between the straw body (1) and the valve (2, 3). The said shape is preferably a groove (8). On the wall on the end of the straw body (1) a tongue-shaped groove (9) is formed on the surface side.

The present disclosure relates to a pre-filled straws and a process ofmanufacturing the same. Such straws may be used for oral administrationof liquid soluble ingredients, preferably granules, preferably for oraldrugs administration. To administer the ingredient which is pre-filledin the straw, the straw has to be with its lower end inserted into theliquid, its upper end is inserted into the mouth and the liquid issucked. Sucked liquid dissolves the ingredient and the solution isapplied to the user.

Known pre-filled straws are described in patent documents. In US2003/0071136 A1 a straw is described with one valve closure impressedinto the body of the straw. In CA 2230851 a drink container is describedwith mouthpiece with inserted valve. Valves and/or filters are added tothe straw, meaning that straws and valves and optionally filters areproduced separately and the straw is assembled from separate parts inlater. The known designs of the straws use one way valves on eitherinlet or outlet, and use different types of closures, i.e. caps, gridsand/or filters of different mesh sizes as closures of other opening.Generally, the straw is assembled from the straw body and the closuremechanism which is inserted into the straw—either valve or filter orother form of barrier. This leads to additional assembly steps inproduction as well as to a need for the use of additional designfeatures preventing closure to fall out of the straw before or duringuse.

The present invention seeks to reduce the above mentioned problem byproviding a pre-filled straw with cross-slit valve closures on both endswhereby the straw and the straw-valves are integrated in one-piece. Theproposed design allows easier production of the straw and its filling.The pre-filled straw according to the invention may enable easierproduction of the straw by multi-component injection moulding, i.e. theinjection of elastomeric valves onto the polymer straw body.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with thereferences to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the straw body,

FIG. 2 shows examples of couplings between segments of a straw body,

FIG. 3 shows examples of cross slit valves that may be used,

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an example of an inlet valve,

FIG. 5 shows the inlet valve of FIG. 4. in cross-section,

FIG. 6 shows an example of an outlet valve in cross-section,

FIG. 7 shows injection moulding of a straw body, and

FIG. 8 shows injection moulding of a valve.

The parts of a pre-filled straw as presented in FIG. 1 are a main strawbody 1 in tubular form, which may be round or oblong shape and two crossslit valves 2, 3. The main straw body includes at least two strawsegments, each having a straw body and a respective valve at one end.Valve 2 is positioned on the liquid inlet and valve 3 on the outlet ofthe straw. The valves 2, 3 are positioned in the way to allow onlyone-way flow through the body straw, as presented by arrow 4 in FIG. 1.The valves 2, 3 are initially in a closed position, but when suction inthe direction of the arrow 4 is applied, both of them are opened andallow the liquid to enter the straw. When suction is stopped, bothvalves 2, 3 return to a closed position.

The invention can be applied to straws consisting of two or even morethan two segments. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, the straw has twostraw segments, each with a respective valve 2, 3 at one end of thesegment. The two straw segments are directly coupled to each other. Inother arrangements, the two straw segments having a valve at one end maybe coupled to each other indirectly, for example by way of one or moreadditional straw segments.

The segments are coupled together with a coupling 5. Such couplings maybe formed from two elements formed, each formed at an end of arespective straw segment. The elements on each segment are configuredsuch that the element on one straw segment can engage with the elementon another straw segment to couple the straw segments together. In sucha way the straw segments can be coupled together after the strawsegments have been formed. This is in contrast with the valves, whichmay be integrally formed as part of the straw segment.

Several types of coupling are depicted in FIG. 2 that may be used tocouple the straw segments. Straw segments may, for example, be attachedone to another by a friction fit connection, i.e. one part is slightlynarrower than the other, a snap-fit connection, a press-fit connection,a weld, a section of adhesive or another suitable coupling. A snap-fitconnection may be an annular snap joint, or capsule like closing system,in which one straw segment has a U-shaped annular groove around thecross-section of the straw segment that, when the straw segments arecoupled, receives corresponding protrusion on the other straw segment.

The thickness of the wall of the straw segment may be increased in theregion of the coupling. This may increase the strength, reduce the riskof cracking and/or make it easier to mould the elements of the coupling.

Once the coupling has been completed, it may be configured to be notpossible to detach the straw segments without damage. Alternatively thecoupling may be configured to be detachable, permitting a user to openthe straw to pour and/or wash out the contents.

In an arrangement the coupling between the straw segments may provide agas tight, or hermetic, seal. This may ensure that, when a user sucks onone end of the straw, pressure is sufficiently reduced within the strawto draw liquid into the other end of the straw. Depending on thecoupling used, an O-ring may be provided in order to ensure a good sealbetween the straw segments.

As depicted in FIG. 1, first and second straw segments coupled togetherto form a pre-filled straw may have the same length. Alternatively, thetwo straw segments may have different lengths. For example, it may bedesirable for one segment to be longer than the other. This may bebeneficial if product is to be placed in only one of the straw segmentsprior to coupling the two straw segments together because this maypermit a greater amount of product to be placed within the pre-filledstraw for a given total length of pre-filled straw. However, longerstraw segments are more difficult to form due to cooling of the mouldduring straw formation. Accordingly, the length of a straw segmentcontaining the product during preparation of the pre-filled straw needto be smaller than the length of the overall pre-filled straw.

In general, the choice of total length of pre-filled straw may be acompromise. It may be selected to be long enough to be convenient for auser to ensure that it reaches liquid in the bottom of a cup. However,the longer the straw, the harder the user must suck to draw up liquidinto their mouth. Furthermore, longer straws cost more to manufactureand take up more space in storage and transit.

In FIG. 3 possible arrangements of slits in the cross-slit valves arepresented. The slit valves per-se are known. Valves are moulded and maybe made of elastomer material. Slits can be cut in a shape of a cross,of a line, of a three-pointed star, of a six-pointed star or any otherappropriate form. The cross-slit valves can differ in shapes, aspresented in the figure with the concave round shape, duck-bill shapeand similar.

An inlet valve 2 according to the present disclosure is presented inFIGS. 4, 5. As shown it may be integrally formed, for example connectedand melded, or co-moulded, to the lower end of the straw body 1. Strawbody 1 may be made of thermoplastic and the valve 2 with a membrane 7that may be made of an elastomer, such as a thermoplastic elastomer.Other materials that can be co-moulded to the straw body. The membrane 7of the inlet valve is bent towards the inside of the straw body 1, i.e.the membrane 7 is concave.

In an arrangement, the material used to form the straw body may betransparent or translucent. In use, this may enable the user to confirmthat all of the product within the straw has been consumed.

In an arrangement, one or both of the inlet valve 2 and the outlet valve3 may be formed in a distinctive colour. If both the inlet valve 2 andthe outlet valve 3 are coloured they may have different distinctivecolours. Arrangements with one or more valve having a distinctive colourmay assist in indicating to users the correct orientation of thepre-filled straw in use. For example, user instructions may include apictogram that uses the one or more coloured valves to clearly indicatethe end to be inserted in the mouth and the end to be inserted in aliquid.

Alternatively or additionally, markings may be provided on the strawbody to indicate correct orientation of the straw for use and/or thedirection of liquid flow in use. Such markings may be applied to thestraw body by any appropriate means, including printing on the strawbody, application of stickers and the inclusion of surface patternswithin the mould design.

The edge of the straw body 1 may be shaped to enable larger surface ofthe connection between the straw body 1 and the inlet valve 2. The saidshape is preferably a recess, such as an indent or groove 8, formedinside the edge of the wall of the straw body 1. To enable the injectionof the thermoplastic into the valve-shaped mould, a tongue-shaped groove9 may be formed on the surface side on the end of the straw body 1. Saidgroove 9 enables that the injected thermoplastic flows from theinjection unit to fill in the valve 2 mould.

An outlet valve 3 is presented in FIG. 6 and may have generally the samestructure as the inlet valve 2. The outlet valve 3 is bent towards theoutside of the straw body 6, i.e. the membrane 10 is convex.

The inlet and outlet valves 2, 3 with the membranes 7, 10 may beinjection-moulded directly onto respective straw segments of the mainstraw body 1. As discussed above, the straw body may have a groove 8.During the injection moulding process, when the elastomer is injectedonto the straw body 1, a junction between both materials, i.e. thethermoplastic of the straw body 1 and the elastomer of valves 2, 3, isformed by the adhesive molecular forces. The provision of the groove mayincrease the area of this contact.

FIGS. 7 and 8 depict a two component, i.e. thermoplastic and elastomer,injection moulding process. The process is performed by injecting thefirst component, preferably polymer, into the mould 12. In the firststep the first component is injected thorough the injection nozzle 14into the channel 15. Then the first component flows through the gate 16to the appropriate cavity 13 in the shape of straw body segment 1. Theflow enters the mould 12 through the gate 16 into the groove 9. In thiscavity 13 the straw body 1 is formed. After this process is completed,the mould 12 changes the configuration in order to initiate the secondstep of the process.

Before the polymer is cooled-off or is hardened, the toolingconfiguration is changed, i.e. the mould 12 rotates and changes theconfiguration in order to initiate the second step of the process. Thenfollows the injection of the second material, preferably elastomer intothe cavity and thus cross slit valve is moulded onto the straw body. Inthis way the valves and straw are attached by molecular adhesion. Thisapproach allows the production cycle time to be shortened.

In the second step as presented in FIG. 8 the already formed straw body1 comes in contact with the second cavity 20. The second cavity 20 is inthe shape of the valve 2, 3. The second component, preferably elastomer,is injected form the injection nozzle 21 through the second channel 22and enters the cavity 20 through the gate 23. After cooling the finishedpiece is ejected from the mould 12.

In an arrangement, the straw bodies may be formed with a tapered shape.In particular the straw bodies may be arranged such that thecross-sectional area of the opening within the straw is smaller at theend having the cross-slit valve than its other end, namely the end thatmay be coupled to another straw segment. The latter end may be generallyopen, in contrast to the end that is closed by the cross-slit valve.Such an arrangement may facilitate the removal of the straw segment fromthe mould once formation of the straw segment is completed. In anarrangement one or both of the straw segments having cross-slit valvesintegrally formed at one end may have a frustro-conical shape.

With the said moulding process several straw sections are produced whichlater are to be coupled together to form a straw, as described above.

In particular, the pre-filled straw may be prepared by placing a productto be orally administered within a first straw segment that has anintegrally formed cross-slit valve such as discussed above. Next, asecond straw segment that has an integrally formed cross-slit valve maybe coupled to the first straw segment. Such a process may be easier thanpreviously known processes for preparing a pre-filled straw because itmay preclude the need to attach a valve to a straw that contains aproduct to be orally administered. This may reduce spillage of theproduct during the process and/or reduce costs.

In an arrangement, when the product is being placed in the first strawsegment, the integrally formed valve of the first segment may preventloss of the product from the first straw segment. For example, duringthe process of placing the product within the first straw segment, itmay be held with the integrally formed valve below the other end suchthat, to the extent that the product flows, it flows towards theintegrally formed valve, which prevents the product leaving the strawsegment. Once the second straw segment has been coupled to the firststraw segment, the product may prevented from leaving the straw ineither direction (when the straw is not in use) by the integrally formedvalves at either end of the pre-filled straw.

It should be appreciated that other arrangements for filling the strawmay be possible. For example, the product could be placed in two strawsegments with integrally formed valves before the two straw segments arecoupled. This may require steps to prevent the product falling out ofone or both straw segments during coupling.

In any case, it should be appreciated that, although in preparation ofthe pre-filled straw the product may be placed initially in one strawsegment, once the pre-filled straw has been prepared, the product maypartially or completely transfer to another straw segment before use.

The product within the pre-filled straw may be any product that can beconveyed by a fluid passing through the straw. For example it mayincluded a liquid soluble powder or granules. Alternatively oradditionally the product may include powder, granules or otherparticulates configured to be entrained in a fluid passing through thestraw. Alternatively or additionally, the product may be a liquid thatis entrained with and diluted by a liquid passing through the straw.

In an arrangement, after the product has been placed in the straw andthe straw segments coupled together, packaging may be added. Thepackaging may be an enclosure that completely surrounds one or morepre-filled straws and/or may cover one or both of the integrally formedcross-slit valves. Such packaging may prevent accidental leakage of theproduct from the pre-filled straw before use. The packaging may bechild-proof packaging.

According to the arrangements disclosed above a very good preventionagainst the loss of the straw content is obtained, since both of thecross-slit valves are closed in the time of non-use. The loss of thecontent during suction is also prevented, as the outlet valve inhibitscounter pressure applied into the straw, and inlet valve prevents theloss of the liquid from the straw.

1. A pre-filled straw to be used for oral administration of a product,comprising: a first straw segment, which contains the product and has anintegrally formed cross-slit valve at one end; and a second strawsegment, which has an integrally formed cross-slit valve at one end;wherein the ends of the first and second straw segments that do not haveintegrally formed cross-slit valves are coupled to one another.
 2. Apre-filled straw according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the strawsegments is tapered such that the cross-sectional area of the openingwithin the straw is smaller at the end having the cross-slit valve thanat the end that is coupled to the other straw segment.
 3. A pre-filledstraw according to claim 2, wherein said at least one of the strawsegments has a frusto-conical shape.
 4. A pre-filled straw according toclaim 1, wherein the first straw segment is directly coupled to thesecond straw segment.
 5. A pre-filled straw according to claim 1,wherein the first straw segment is coupled to the second straw segmentby at least one of a snap-fit connection, a press-fit connection, afriction fit connection, a weld and an adhesive.
 6. A pre-filled strawaccording to claim 1, wherein the first and second straw segments eachhave an integrally formed element at the ends that are coupled to oneanother, the elements configured to enable the first and second strawsegments to be coupled to one another.
 7. A pre-filled straw accordingto claim 1, wherein the cross-slit valves are co-moulded to the ends ofthe first and second straw segments.
 8. A pre-filled straw according toclaim 1, wherein the cross-slit valves are formed in a membrane formedfrom a thermoplastic elastomer material.
 9. A pre-filled straw accordingto claim 8, wherein the membrane of the cross-slit valve formed on oneof the first and second straw segments has a convex shape.
 10. Apre-filled straw according to claim 9, wherein the membrane of thecross-slit valve formed on the other of the first and second strawsegments has a concave shape.
 11. A pre-filled straw according to claim1, wherein at least one of the first and second straw segments comprisesa straw body to which the cross-slit valve is attached by molecularadhesion.
 12. A pre-filled straw according to claim 11, wherein thestraw body is formed from a thermoplastic material and the cross-slitvalve is formed from a different material.
 13. A pre-filled strawaccording to claim 11, wherein the surface of the end of the straw bodyto which the cross-slit valve is attached has at least one recessconfigured to increase the area of contact between the straw body andthe cross-slit valve.
 14. A pre-filled straw according to claim 1,further comprising packaging that protects at least part of one of thecross-slit valves.
 15. A process of preparing a pre-filled strawcomprising: placing a product to be orally administered to a user withina first straw segment that has an integrally formed cross-slit valve atone end; and coupling a second straw segment that has an integrallyformed cross-slit valve at one end to the first straw segment such thatthe ends of the first and second straw segments without cross-slitvalves are coupled to one another.
 16. A process according to claim 15,wherein, from the time that the product is placed in the first strawsegment until the second straw segment is coupled to the first strawsegment, the product is retained in the first straw segment by itsintegrally formed cross-slit valve.
 17. A process according to claim 15,wherein the first straw segment is formed with its integrally formedcross-slit valve before the product is placed in the first strawsegment.
 18. A process according to claim 15, wherein the second strawsegment is formed with its integrally formed cross-slit valve before thesecond straw segment is coupled to the first straw segment.
 19. Aprocess according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the first andsecond straw segments is formed by: forming a straw body; andsubsequently co-moulding the cross-slit valve on one end of the strawbody such that they are integrally formed.
 20. A process according toclaim 19, wherein the material used to form the straw body is differentfrom the material used to form the cross-slit valve.
 21. A processaccording to claim 19, wherein the cross-slit valve is formed from athermoplastic elastomer.
 22. A process according to claim 19, whereinthe straw body is formed from a thermoplastic.
 23. A process accordingto claim 15, further comprising providing packaging that protects atleast part of one of the cross-slit valves.